A trip into Euro-analysis

The following stems from an e-mail sent by a friend:

"I ran across this on the Rick Steves sight. I'm not sure I buy into everything the author had to say, though he made very valid points. If some of you's folks have a smidgen of free time, it's an interesting topic."

Good-ness, where to begin?

Well, for one, I think this essay has to be read keeping in mind that Rick Steves makes his livelihood convincing people Europe is a wonderful place to visit, especially when accompanied by one of his guidebooks. He's also from Oregon and works for Public Broadcasting -- not exactly a card-carrying Republican, I'd guess.

But that said, he makes several valid points. Now, I'm a francophile and lean left-of-center, but I think there are things that are genuinely better in Europe, most importantly the concept of quality of life. The overt materialism of the United States often disgusts me. The obsession with bigger-better-newer can be nauseating (sorry, Ty). I get agitated when I see someone idling in their Expedition in a Target parking lot on a gorgeous spring day, windows rolled up and a/c on. A car that already only gets, what, 10 miles to the gallon, and they're idling. And I bet they complain about the cost of gas. Yes, gas is expensive in Europe. But they all drive tiny cars -- and after you've been there for about a month, they seem perfectly normal and adequate. Houses are smaller, closer together. They're also built out of quality materials, according to regional guidelines that instill a sense of place, not just vinyl siding. And Europeans simply own less stuff. They wear their clothes more often and everything is interchangeable (what doesn't go with black?). What they spend their money on is time. As Brad loves to say, you can have either time or money, not both. So Europeans eat leisurely dinners. They walk around pedestrian shopping streets -- even just to walk, not necessarily shop. They sip wine and tiny cups of espresso, just enjoying their evenings. And most people go home for lunch with their families during the week. What better quality time with your kids? The importance of family in Europe is incredible -- true "family values" extending beyond the nuclear, taking care of the elderly.

And the wonders of mass transit!!! Subways, busses, commuter trains! You don't HAVE to have a car! Don't get me started on my nostalgia for SNCF (French rail system) bells and announcements!

Now, for where Steves was painting a rosy picture. Europeans still love their celebrities. Often American celebrities. Maybe it's not quite as rampant as Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie-Paris Hilton-Jessica Simpson crap, but it's definitely there. And American brands are everywhere. Even team logos. I remember a kid wearing a Georgetown hat. I asked him if he knew of the school and he just looked at me. They may not understand the symbolism, but they love the symbols.

And socialist doctrines aren't always a success. Steves waxed poetic about the French 35 hour work week, but that just got killed because it was costing the economy too much and the government wants to try the other way around to see if that sparks more development. Not that the French are all about efficiency now. The buses in my region were on strike for three weeks and I had no way to get to one of my schools. And my school said, That's okay, we'll see you when the strike is over!

But God-love the European concept of paid family time! Three months maternity leave! (In Ukraine, I think it's a year) And they keep you in the hospital for a week so you actually have time to rest and recover before you have to start the sleep deprivation, not just a baby mill that cranks you out a day after you deliver! And vacations ... I'm a bit bitter about that as I face two weeks a year for the next five years, all while working weekends, but then that's partly my fault for choosing journalism. My sister gets obscene amounts of vacation, and it's just the standard five weeks. She's always talking about having to take vacation days at the end of the year to use them up, trotting off to interesting corners of England every few weeks.

All in all, an interesting essay. Not all Europeans are gung-ho about the EU (hence the rise of jerks like Le Pen), racism is growing. And I've seen the ugly side of government subsidies after working in vo-tech high schools, like a student that actually told me that when he grew up, he just wanted to go on unemployment like his dad. So Europe isn't all a bed of roses. But I do think a lot of their priorities are in the right place.